Sputum cup



p 1 3 H. B. CRANSHAW 3 2,330,033

I 331mm CUP I Filed Oct 8, 1942 v Patented Sept. 21, 1943 SPUTUM CUP' Harold B. Cranshaw, Newton, Mass, assignor'to a Burnitol Manufacturing Company, Charlestown, Mass.,a oorporation'of Maine Application October 8, 1942, Serial No. 461,272 (Cl. 4271) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacles ofthe type made form sheet material, such for example as sputum cups and like containers which are intended to be destroyed after use.

In articles oi'this character it is essential that the receptacle be provided with a suitable cover which is normally closed and which maybe conveniently opened. and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a receptacle of this type having a normally closed cover member which is hinged to the receptacle without theuse of fastening means'other than those constituting an integral part ofthe cover and receptacle and which is constructed'so thatthe cover may be conveniently opened by the hand or finger holding the receptacle.

Another object is to provide a receptacle wherein thecover may be integral with or separate from the cup, but in either case both parts being'formed with complementary interlocking means so designed that the receptacle may be quickly erected and assembled so that the parts are not subject to accidental separation.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a cup embodying the present invention is formed;

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cup;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective showing the manner in which the cover is assembled with the cup;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 to 3 but showing a further modification;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view, of ablank from which a cup having an integral cover is formed; and I Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the parts in erected position.

Each of the embodiments herein shown comprises a cup C formed from a single piece of fiberboard or the like sheet material, and a cover which may be separate from or integral with the cup, in either case the cup and cover being formed with complementary interlocking parts which not only pivotally support the cover in normally closed position on the cup but also prevent separation of the parts. I

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the- 4 areprovided with integral locking flap l0 and H having wings which are adapted to interlo'ck with the foldable portions 6 -9 to hold the cup" in erected position.

The side wall 3' is formed with an extension l2 which is scored toprovide a line of fold defining a hinged cover-supporting section l4 and a locking tongue I5, theiinner edges Hiand ll of the section l4 being tapered, as'shown in Fig. 1. The cover 20 (Fig. 2) is provided adjacent to its rear edge with a pair of spaced slits Hand 22 which define a re'silient depressible looking I strap 24. When; the cup is erected, the extension [2 is inserted through" the slits 2!, 22 so that the t'apered'dges of the section l4 are wedged against the ends of the slits with its body portion holding the resilient strap 24 in depressed position, as shown' 'in Fig. 3'. The strap 24 is thus effective to exert'airictional lockingaction on the section 14 and cooperates with the wedging'action on' 'the tapered edges 15 and" I1 so as pivotallyto hold the'cover-zil in' "rmiunally closedposition on the cup; The'lo'cking tongue I5 is bent about the rear edge of the cov'erwith its end inserted through slit 2| so'as to underlie the body portion of the cover, thereby forming an interlock which prevents the cover from being separatedfrom the cup.

In the embodiment shown in'Figs. cup is formedfrom a blank which is substantiallyidentical to that of the previously described embodiment, except that the wall 3 is formed with an extension 25' scored to providelines of fold defining a pair of cover supporting sections 26, 21 and laterallockingtongues 23;The sec tions 26, 21 when folded together provide a dovetail-shaped hinged support for coverdepressing the areas 34,35 the ends'of the tabs 28 may be inserted through" the slits and held" beneath the rear of the cover 30, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing aninterlock which not only supports the cover in normally closed position,

but also prevents separation of the parts.

The embodiment shown in Figs. '17 -and 8-is similar to that of Figs; 4 to 6,except that the cover 40 is 'formed integrally with supporting section 4! carried by 'side wall'3. The section 4| is formed with lateral locking tongues Aland r too-the both the cover and supporting section are provided with slits 43 whichdefine depressible areas 45. When the cup is erected the cover 40 may be folded downwardly on the cup to provide a closure and the locking tongues folded inwardly with their ends inserted through, slits 43, as shown in Fig. 8, to provide an interlock which prevents separation of the parts. 7

It will be noted that in each of the embodiments herein shown the cover is securely held in assembled relation with the cup by means of one or more tongues formed integral with the cover supporting section, which tongues cooperate with slitted portions of the cover to form an interlock preventing separation of the parts; It will also be noted that the marginal portionv of. thecover overlying the supporting tongue or section provides a lever-like handle by means of which the cover may be conveniently swung openwhen.

the cup is held in the hand.

While'I. have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention, it isto be understood that this disclose-re? iswior the; purpose or illustration and that various changes in a shape, proportion; andrarrangement of parts, as wellas substitutionotequivalent elements for those; herein (168611133513; may be made without, departing "from the spirit andscope of: thei-rrvem tion' asset forth in the appended claims.

Iclaimr 1 l L. A receptacle of the'class described compris ing a cup having a, side wall formed with anex" tension bent outwardly to form a hinge", said extension having a bendable portion constitutinga locking tongue, and a cover having aisl-it in itsrear marginal. portion defining anarea adapted to be depressed from. the planeaof the: cover; said extension underlyingthe cover with its'locking tonguebent about the adjacent edge. of the cover and inserted through said slitto form an interlock which pivotally supports the cover in nor-- mallyclosed position and prevents separation of the-parts; l

2. A- receptaole of the class described comprise ing a cup having a side wall formedwith an ex tension bent outwardly to provide a hinge; said extension having laterally extending locking tongues; and a: cover having in its. rear marginal portion slits defining depressible areas, said extension unrlerlying'v the rear. marginalxportion oi thecover with its locking tongues folded about said d'epressible areas and its ends inserted through said slits, thereby to form an interlock which pivotally supports the'oover in normally closed position and prevents separation oi the parts. V

3; A receptacle of the clasadescri-bed comprising a cup having aside wall formed. with an extension defim'ng; a hinge and a locking tongue, and a cover having at its rear edge portion slits defining adepressible area, said tongue being bent about the adjacent edge of the cover with its end inserted between the depressible area and the adjacent body portion of the cover, thereby to form an interlock which pivotally supports the cover in anormally closed position and prevents separation of the parts.

l 4. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having aside wall formed with an extension defining a hinge and a locking tongue, and a cover having adjacent to its rear edge a pair of spaced slits defining a resilient depressibl'e strap, said tongue projecting through said slits and holding said strap in depressed position, the end of said tongue b'eing bentabout the rear edge of the cover and inserted through the innermost slit, thereby to form an interlock which pivotally supports the cover in normally closed position and prevents separation of the parts.

5. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having a side wall formed with an extension bent outwardly to provide a hinge, said extension having laterally projecting locking tongues; and a cover having at its rear marginal portion and spaced inwardly from its lateral edges slits providing depressible areas at its rear corners, said extension underlying the rear marginal portion of said cover with its locking tongues folded inwardly over said depressible areas, the endsof'said tongues extending through said slits to underlie the cover and thereby provide an interlock which pivotally supports the cover in normally closed position and prevents separation of the parts.

6r. A receptacle of the class described comprising; a. cup having a side: wall formed with an extensionbent outwardly to; provide a. hinge, said extension having laterally projecling locking tongues, and a cover having a rear edge which projects outwardly beyond the adjacent edge: oi the cup, the inner part of said extension underlying the, rear edge of the, cover with its outer part, folded over the upper face thereof, said extension and rear edge having slits defining depressible. areas, the locking tongues being folded inwardly about said, depressible areas with their ends projecting through said slits to form an interlock which pivotally supports. the cover in normally closed position and prevents separation oi the parts.

'7. A receptacle oi the class described comprising a, cup having a side wall formed with an integraI extension including inner and outer sections, the, inner section providing a supporting hinge and theQuter section. being bent upon the inner, section to provide a cover for the cup, said sections having at each lateral edge inter-engaging integral parts, constructed and arr n to provide an. interlock effective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the parts.

8.. A- receptacle, of the class described comprising a cup. having a sidewall formed with an integral extension including inner and outer sections, the inner section providing a, supporting hinge and the outer section being bent. upon the, inner section to provide a cover for the cup, one of said sections being formed with a looking tongue at each lateral edge and the other section having cuts providing openings to receive said locking tongues, thereby to provide an interlock effective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the parts.

'9. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having, a side wall formed with an integral extension including inner and outer sections, the inner section providing a supporting hinge and the outer section being bent upon the inner sectionto provide a cover for the cup, the inner section having lockingtongues at its lateral edges and the outer section having cuts defining openings to receive said locking tongues thereby to provide an inter-lockefiective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the; parts.

10. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having a side wall formed with an integral extension including inner and outer sections, the inner section providing a supporting hinge and the outer section being bent upon the inner section to provide a cover for the cup,

the inner section having lateral locking tongues said locking tongues, thereby to provide an interlock effective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the parts.

11. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having a side wall formed with an integral extension including an inner section providing a supporting hinge and an outer section bent upon the inner section to provide a cover for the cup, the outer section having slits adjacent to its lateral edges providing openings and the inner section having laterally projecting locking tongues bent inwardly about the adjacent edges of the outer sections and inserted in said openings to provide an interlock effective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the parts.

12. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having a side wall formed with an integral extension including an inner section providing a supporting hinge andan outer section bent upon the inner section to provide a cover for the cup, the inner section having locking tongues at its lateral edges and the outer section having parts shaped to accommodate the ends of said tongues, thereby to provide an interlock effective to hold the cover in normally closed position and prevent separation of the parts.

13. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having aside wall formed with an'extension including inner and outer sections, the

inner section swinging relatively to said side, i

wall on a hinge line and the outer section being folded upon the inner section to extend parallel thereto, one of said sections having slits at itsv rear marginal portion and spaced inwardly from its lateral edges, each of said slits extending in a direction crosswise of said hinge line, and the other 'of said sections having locking tongues extending through said slits, each of said tongues extending in a direction lengthwise of said hinge line, to interlock the two sections together.

14. A receptacle of the class described comprising a cup having a side wall formed with an extension including inner and outer sections, the inner section swinging relatively to said side wall on a hinge line and the outer section being folded upon the inner section to extend parallel thereto, the outer section having slits at its rear marginal portion and spaced inwardly from its lateral edges, each of said slits extending in a direction crosswise of said hinge line, and the v inner section having locking tongues extending through said slits, each of said tongues extending in a direction lengthwise of said hinge line, to interlock the two sections together.

HAROLD B. CRANS-HZAW. 

